Saleh Khalaf al-Ali

Saleh Khalaf al-Ali (1992-) was a regional Islamic State commander in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria during the Syrian Civil War.

Biography
Saleh Khalaf al-Ali was born in al-Kisra, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria in 1992, and he was affected by the Islamic State's sermons after IS took over his town in 2015 during the Syrian Civil War. After five months of IS domination, his cousins joined the group, and he was lured to join IS by the financial benefits that his cousins had received. He trained in al-Jaraniyah to the west of Raqqa, and he was trained in the use of weapons, bombs, and human shields. After beheading 6 wounded Syrian Arab Army soldiers, al-Ali was promoted to emir, and he managed some villages in Deir ez-Zor. On 8 October 2017, he was captured in a special operation carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces east of Deir ez-Zor, and the illiterate al-Ali told his story to his captors.